Transferable skills when changing industries

Most of us have transferable skills, and they’re incredibly valuable when going through a career change or moving industries. These are the types of skills that all employers are looking for, and they could just be the magic bullet you need to score a dream job in a new sector – so it pays to highlight them on any job application.

To help you nail your key selling points on your resume and cover letter, we’ve collated a transferable skills list you can use to impress prospective employers.

Communication skills

Being able to communicate effectively is one the most important skills a person can possess in their professional and personal lives. Every role today requires communication skills in some form, and promotions and professional success are virtually impossible without them. Not only do good communication abilities enable you to get your message across, but it also teaches you to listen to others and be a better team-player. Key communication skills include:

• Listening to others empathetically, and considering their message before responding
• Being able to write clearly, succinctly and in a professional manner
• Being able to clearly express ideas and negotiate in face-to-face settings

Problem-solving skills

Consciously or not, most of us spend a lot of time solving problems ranging from innocuous concerns like where to get our morning coffee right through to how to spend the annual business budget. Everyone from the junior customer service representative to the CEO faces problems that need solving, so it’s all about being able to highlight examples of when you’ve used your problem-solving abilities to find a solution to an issue. This could include:

• Identifying and/or implementing new processes
• Solving an issue for a customer or client
• Identifying new tools or technologies to improve a process
• Analysing issues or threats and identifying ways to mitigate risk

Organisational skills

Effective organisational skills are sought-after by employers because they demonstrate that you can complete work efficiently, even when under pressure. A major component of organisational skills is prioritisation – this is a juggling act that even some of the most seasoned professionals haven’t entirely mastered. Being well-organised and able to handle conflicting priorities is highly regarded across most industries. Organisational skills include:

• Time management
• Prioritisation and planning
• Efficiency
• Research and analysis
• Administrative skills

Leadership skills

Having managerial experience doesn’t necessarily mean you have solid leadership skills. Good leaders’ actions inspire others to think more, learn more, do more, and become more – in other words, they go above and beyond the role of “telling people what to do” to lead others to success. True leaders are highly sought after for management roles in every industry because they help to:

• Inspire and motivate teams
• Set goals and monitor performance
• Provide mentoring
• Create succession plans
• Build and strengthen teams

 With these four sets of core transferable skills highlighted on your resume, you’ll be well on your way to securing a new job in virtually any industry.